Method of removal of finished footwear from lasts and last suitable for said method

ABSTRACT

The invention discloses improvements in the removal of finished footwear from the last and includes the steps of moving the heel part of the last upwardly to release the tension on the footwear and exert an upward force on the same and then sliding the heel part forwardly on the last sole to exert a forward force on the footwear to separate the same from the fore part of the last.

United States Patent 1191 [111 3,803,657 Liebscher Apr. 16, 1974 METHOD OF REMOVAL OF FINISHED 3,203,050 8/1965 Hoffman 12/135 R FOOTWEAR FROM LASTS AND LAST 3,317,940 5/1967 Ludwig ROllman et al [75] Inventor: Anton I. Liebscher, Waynesville,

N.C. Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson An A 2, F Do T. H :1 1d [73] Assignee: Ro-Search, Incorporated, omey gen or [rm S 3 1e Waynesville, NC.

[22] Filed: Oct. 19, 1972 57 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 299,130

The invention discloses improvements in the removal of finished footwear from the last and includes the [52] US. Cl 12/142 R Steps of moving the heel part of the last upwardly to 51 I t C1 A4 9 0 I! release th tension on th f t d exert an [58] held of Search 12/135 135 142 ward force on the same and then sliding the heel part 12/142 145 forwardly on the last sole to exert a forward force on the footwear to separate the same from the fore part [56] References Cited of the last UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,932,064 4/1960 Farmer et al. 12/135 R 1 Claim, 1 Drawing Figure 4 c t 1 4b \A ,1 D I" 5 I I I Q i l I l 4 3 r 2 I i6 I L r I r D- i r '7 t 0 I I I I, J I I I l 1 I, 100 o .1 B i 1"? C 1 7 O i J 9 8 i i c.

PATENTED APR 16 974 METHOD OF REMOVAL OF FINISHED FOOTWEAR FROM LASTS AND LAST SUITABLE FOR SAID METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The removal of the finished footwear from the last used to bond the sole to the upper of shoes or boots requires fore-shortening of the last to allow the operator to lift by hand the rear quarter of the footwear and to push the shoe or boot off the last. Such fore-shortening lasts are shown in US. Pat. No. 2,932,064. The lifting of the heel part of the shoe or boot while the fore-part of the footwear is still tightly on the fore-part of the last can cause damage to the shank of the footwear, as often, substantial force has to be used by the operator on the outside quarter of the footwear.

SUMMARY The invention, having as one object to eliminate the drawbacks of the present hand operation, provides that the force needed to lift the finished footwear off the last is exerted on the inside of the footwear, i.e., against the insole surface. The force may be by'the hand of the operator increased by suitable levers, or by compressed air or electric power. Exerted on the inside of. the footwear, the lifting force has no contact with the outside of the footwear and for this reason, there is no damage to the shoe. A

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent with reference to the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a mold last according to the invention lifting the shoe by means of a heel piece.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The last shown in FIG. 1 comprises the leg part 1 supporting the fore part including the instep part 2, and the toe part 3. A movable heel part 4 completes the last. The last is fore-shortened in the known manner by making the heel part 4 a separate piece movable in relation to the main part of the last. This movement might be, as shown, above the last sole into the position 4a. The upper, placed on the fore-shortened last, tightened thereon by moving the heel part from the position 4a into the position 4, is united with a sole by bonding the sole to the bottom margin of the upper, whether by vulcanization and/or molding under pressure or by injection of sole material. It is customary to shorten thereafter the length of the last by lifting or lowering the heel section of the last sufficiently to release at least in the heel section of the footwear the tension created by the previous tightening of the upper. Thereafter,.the heel section of the footwear can be lifted upwards away from the heel of the last and the entire footwear moved over the last sole surface 5.

In the example of FIG. 1, the method of the invention provides that the heel piece 4 remain in the upper, and by moving the same forwardly over the last sole into the positions 4b and 4c, forces the upper beyond the toe part of the last, as indicated in dotted lines as the position 17 of the upper, a position which allows the separation of the upper completely from the last without any stress or strain on the footwear. The heel piece 4 glides first on the back out of the main part of the last and thereafter on the sole surface 5, moved by the levers 7 and 8, actuated by grip 9. A pivot 6 allows the heel piece 4 to tip over on its inner surface 16 to hug the last sole surface 5 in its movement towards the toe of the last. The lever 8 has its pivot point 18 adjustable in relation to the last by means of the hinge lever 10a, and the adjustment 12 of the support 1 1 secured to the last bottom support 13. Locking means such as the hook 14 are provided to hold the last in the full position. The last leg 1 is substantially reduced in its crosssection B from cross-section C of the leg of the footwear, mainly on the instep side of the last, so as to facilitate the movement of the instep of the boot or shoe caused by the movement of the heel piece as described above.

It is preferred to exert the force pushing the insole forwardly over a large area of the insole, either by extending the sole surface of the heel piece or by using a separate last sole plate to move the footwear by its insole off the last, i.e., to bring the finished footwear into a position where no temporary deformation of the footwear is neededto separate it from the last. The sole plate might be hinged to the last or to leverage moving it. This might take the form of combining the heel piece with a large part or all of the sole plate.

In other embodiments of lasts, according to the invention, the last sole plate may in the full position of the last be spaced from the instep part of the last so that the same can be collapsed by moving the last sole plate and the instep against each other. Preferably, the last sole plate is supported by the leg of .the last and the instep part is movable parallel to the last leg. If more collapse of the main part of the last is needed, the instep part might be movable parallel to the last sole, or in a combined movement in both directions, parallel and perpendicular to the last sole.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of manufacture of footwear which includes the steps of placing an upper upon a collapsible last having a fore part and a movable heel part, tightening the upper on the last, bonding a sole under pressure to the bottom margin of the upper, collapsing the last by moving the heel part upwardly to release the tension on the footwear andexert an upward force on the inside of the same, and then moving the heel part forwardly over at least the ball area of the last sole to exert a forward force on the footwear to separate the same from the fore part of the last. 

1. The method of manufacture of footwear which includes the steps of placing an upper upon a collapsible last having a fore part and a movable heel part, tightening the upper on the last, bonding a sole under pressure to the bottom margin of the upper, collapsing the last by moving the heel part upwardly to release the tension on the footwear and exert an upward force on the inside of the same, and then moving the heel part forwardly over at least the ball area of the last sole to exert a forward force on the footwear to separate the same from the fore part of the last. 